Efforts for a reduction in carbon-based energy usage have for the most part been focused on the Statehouse, but on Town Meeting Day many communities across Vermont pledged to embrace environmental action at the local level.

In all, 35 towns voted on on resolutions that pledged to pursue policy goals aimed at prohibiting development of carbon-energy infrastructure while embracing renewables.

Maeve McBride, director of 350Vermont, the environmentalist group behind the statewide effort, confirmed that the resolutions passed in every town. “[The] towns approved of it, in all of the towns that it was on the ballot, pretty much by a landslide,” she said.

Carl Russell, chair of the Bethel Selectboard, said the resolution was overwhelmingly popular with voters. “There was a mostly unanimous vote in favor,” he said, adding that no one spoke against the measure, even though a few points may have been contentious for some voters.

According to the language from the original pledge, each town would commit to the following:

a. Halt any new or expanded fossil fuel infrastructure, including but not limited to energy pipelines;
b. Firmly commit to at least 90% renewable energy for all people in Vermont, with firm interim deadlines; and,
c. Ensure that the transition to renewable energy is fair and equitable for all
residents, with no harm to marginalized groups or rural communities.

Each town was free to add or change the language to fit their local interests.

350Vermont and other like-minded groups argue that carbon emissions are causing erratic temperatures, severe storms, a spread of tick-borne diseases and other threats to maple sugar makers and farmers.

Jaiel Pulskamp, field organizer for 350 Vermont, told True North ahead of the election that “it will pass pretty easy in most of the towns.” However, she said there is “resistance to the no-new fossil fuels” concept, and “people aren’t quite sure they want to move off natural gas.”

She said she hopes towns will work with their selectboards and planning commissions to invest in projects such as solar panels on schools, weatherization of old buildings, heat pumps in homes and ridesharing and public transportation developments. At the state level, she said she is in favor of H.746, which calls for no new fossil fuel infrastructure.

Asked about the higher costs of renewables versus carbon-based energy, Pulskamp said “we have to look at the true costs,” and she referenced Hurricane Irene and big storms of 2017. “We’re all going to be affected through our pocketbooks.”

She added that she prefers that communities focus on rooftop solar and “brown sites” that don’t hold high value in a community.

Russell said that Bethel’s energy committee is working on an energy plan that conforms to the standards of Act 174, the state’s renewable energy siting law. He said the community currently has commercial-scale renewable energy development, not industrial-scale, which spurs the most opposition.

“We do have a lot of pushback in our town about that kind of development,” Russell said. “… People are definitely serious about making sure that we have prudent development of commercial-scale solar and wind.

“We want it to happen but, the main thing is there’s been some pushback about the fact that if a project is of a certain scale, the only review is by the [Vermont Public Utility Commission] and then our zoning and other development review is insignificant.”

Pulskamp also acknowledged issues with industrial wind turbines, such as environmental impacts and sound pollution. But she said carbon-based energy sources, such as natural gas and coal, have their own pollution issues.

She said Vermont should can look to Europe as model for how green energy can be done aggressively and done right.

I am a owner of rental properties in the north east kingdom. I have and other investors have spent a lot of money trying to rejuvenate the economy up here. I retired from the Fbi and started buying up old 100+ year homes, bringing them back to their original condition. I grew up spending my summers and skiing in the winter in Vermont.
The people who want to preserve Vermont are wonderful people however, they all have to come to realize that carbon tax, oil /propane tank inspections, enhanced auto inspections are going to hurt the people that can not afford to comply with what employees of the state of Vermont wake up in the morning and decide is in our best interest.

Germany and Denmark, with high levels of wind and solar, have the highest household electric rates in Europe, by far. They are about 30 eurocent /kWh

Almost all countries have rates less than 20 eurocent /kWh

France has one of the lowest at about 14 eurocent/kWh

The average cost of Vermont’s STANDARD OFFER program is 21.7 c/kWh, more than FOUR TIMES the New England average wholesale price. That growing program is costing Vermonters tens of millions of dollars each year, in taxes, fees and surcharges, andhigher electric rates, and in higher prices of good and services.

The SO program is a multi millionaire’s dream no risk tax shelter, at the expense of Gullible Vermonters, who are being flummoxed left and right and down the middle.